The book is set in high school and deals with the issues of peer pressure, acceptance, discrimination, sexual tension, and social interaction.

[1][2][3] The story takes place at Frederick Douglass High School.

Junior Jericho Prescott and his cousin Josh, along with their friends Dana Wolfe and Kofi Freeman, decide to pledge for one of the most popular and prestigious organizations at school, the Warriors of Distinction.

While the "Warriors" seem to be an upstanding organization that does a lot for the community, their governing is far more corrupt and plagued.

While they have the opportunity to quit, Josh and Jericho choose popularity and peer acceptance and it ends in a hazing accident gone wrong which cost Josh's life.